Comfort Zone: Prospect Discusses Auburn

Mark Murphy

01/18/2007

A football prospect from Georgia discusses his weekend visiting the Tigers.

Augusta, Ga.--A player who committed to Auburn at a summer football camp, Aquinas High School fullback John Douglas, says he feels better than ever about his decision to play for Coach Tommy Tuberville's Tigers.

"It was a lot of fun," he says of his official visit to Auburn last weekend. "It was what I expected and a lot more. My player host was Neil Caudle. He is a good guy and we had a lot of fun together."

Tuberville and his coaching staff are hoping that the 6-2, 233-pounder can become an effective runner, blocker and receiver from the fullback position.

"Coach Tuberville told me just to come in ready to play, to have my mind right and get after it when I get to Auburn," Douglas says.

He arrived with his parents on Friday and notes that he enjoyed getting to meet his future teammates and other recruits that evening while his parents spent time with the coaching staff.

"On Friday we hung out at Andrew McCain's apartment with Tommy Trott and other guys," Douglas says. "We did the same thing on Saturday and went out to see some stuff.

"Also on Saturday I met with people from the business school. I am thinking of that as a major. I am interested in finance or something like that.

"Saturday night was real cool," he adds. "We went to the stadium and ate there at the Tiger Den. We went on the field and that was a lot of fun. They fed me well. We had steak and shrimp and the food was awesome. After that I hung out with Steven Ensminger, the kickers and some other guys."

All things considered, the weekend was time well spent, notes Douglas, who is planning to finish his senior season playing baseball for Aquinas High. "It was reassuring. When I came in I wasn't really sure what the guys on the team were going to be like, but they are a lot like me and that made me feel really comfortable."

Most of the prospects in for official visits are already committed to the Tigers like Douglas, who says, "I really didn't try to recruit any of the uncommitted players. I just tried to hang out with them and make them feel comfortable. I hung out with Lee Ziemba. He is someone we are trying to get in. He is a lot of fun.

"I liked the whole group of guys we have in our recruiting class," Douglas adds. "I just think they are all good guys."